Extension quote

This will be interesting to hear how this pans out. 🙈

Just had a read through the thread there and prices quoted are astronomical, I guess gone are the days of 20k extensions 😱 A friend recently had an attic converted and it was €40k+ in what I would've considered a very small attic. I'm not sure if OP went ahead with his attic but as with most Dublin 3 bed semis there doesn't appear to be much in the way of head room up there.

Hope you weren't caught too badly OP, changing contractors mid build is very stressful and usually best avoided. It looks as though it will be a fantastic home once completed. 👍

I feel your pain. We have receieved two qoutes so far of 80k and above for a 20 square meter extension.

Builders are either milking it or prices are really just through the roof. I'm in the process of building out a bill of materials to understand what the material cost is

For the likes of that you could try using direct labour. Its not rocket science escpecially if planning is required.

It's in meath. Totally crazy. I'm going down the self build route and managing / doing bits my self. No way am I handing over 80k

When was this?

I suggest to people to bide their time, there are obviously enough people willing to pay these costs to keep the number of active builders busy at the moment. Most people haven't got that money.

But when that cohort of people have spent their money and more builders come into the extension game, their prices will have to drop.

As for materials, not so sure.

May or may not be economic downturn coming but if it does, then you'll get builders

I've done work in my house with my dad's assistance, knocked a wall to open plan, built fake chimney breast, extended kitchen....the 1 thing that always stood out as you say is the length of time it took us.

We tiled the downstairs bathroom once in our spare time, great job but it took us forever. Got a tiler into do the main bathroom and ensuite after that, he was here 2 days on each and the 2nd day wasn't even full.

Builders finish. I'm going to dig foundation's end of February / March and do what I can myself. Will be hiring in trades for electrics, plumbing and roof.

I wanted soneome in to do it for the convenience and time, but no way am I borrowing more money or spending our savings on a 20sqm box. The mrs is fine with it taking longer and saving the money also

Hopefully builders will feed those prices to the consumer and 3-4k per sqm isn't the new norm they are going to try and get way with while the country is booming.

Looks like things might be getting a bit better.

Just had a mail from a builder I got a quote from last October for a 40 sqm extension.

The quotes I got were €95k to 120k.

This guys quote was 105k.

We decided not to go ahead with it at those prices.

He has come back today and said he is free to start in March and due to prices falling back for materials his new quote in €80k.

I think thats still too much but I might go get some fresh quotes from other builders and see how it goes.

Its a single story at the back of the house in Dublin.

80k sounds decent. We had ours done in 2021. 45sqm for 71.5k. That included two fully tiles kitted out wetrooms though. Hopefully things continue to drop though.

The country isn't booming we are set for a recession this year and construction has contracted 6 out of the last 7 months and already a prediction from pwc of 1000k companies going insolvent this year alone. I think a lot construction companies unless they cop on to their quotes will be heading to the wall as people simply cannot afford the the prices. Wages have come no where near the increase in construction. Anyone getting building work done. Make sure you separate your QS spend out and keep that and use it when the builders need materials and I would be paying on a weekly basis no big cash amounts as the builder who starts your job may well be insolvent taking your cash with them by the end. I would also hold off if the slowdown continues hopefully construction companies in the main will be bleeding heavily and have to pass on savings to the customer as in almost all areas from timber to blocks to gas price have come down yet the price of a construction job seems to be falling at a much slower pace.

Hold off 6 months at least and see where things are at.

That’s a great price for the 45sqm is that mates rates or family member doing that job for you ?

That’s an excellent price could we see prices dropping more than that in the future ? And can I ask was that a standard builders finish no kitchen or tiles etc..

That's encouraging to hear but I suppose the caveat is that the economy might be starting to slow too. Or maybe it's a sign of inflation and people not willing to pay those prices. Could be a bit of both.

For what it's worth I think even 60k is crazy money for a 20sqm extension.

Well the way he was pushing another contract out to fit me in would suggest he did want it and coming back 12k less would also suggest he wants it. He must of thought let the gouging continue. Its way too much still so will leave it for another 6 months and see what way the winds are blowing

These single leaf builds just boggle the mind.

I wouldnt have anything to do with them but even so, whoever is building this is not a blocklayer and it's not to any kind of acceptable standard.

Blocks appear to be from different suppliers which is never a good start. Sizing can be poor nevermind the whole certification issue.

Little to no tie in on left side between this stepped back section and main structure. Line of blocks upright along door frame - no tie. Blocks above that are perhaps tied in on one course max. It's complete messing.

Lintel over door acting as a course of its own. I don't know how this is supposed to tie in with block courses as lintel is 65 versus 100 block.

203 x 203 beam possibly untreated. Upright block/concrete on corner under beam likely to try to get around the dodgy course heights due to lintel.

Bottom of build has coursing staggered on each 100mm course, top part staggered on 225mm coursing. It just screams absolute cowboy. I wouldn't rate that builder as being capable of doing that job.

I hope they employed the Engineer at least and are not using the builders Engineer!

Id assume that isnt the drawing being qouted off and worked off? Not reputable builder would qoute off that.

Or just do it right the first time 🤷‍♂️